Combined postcard and mailer

ABSTRACT

Two cards are joined at their edges to make a pocket between the cards to receive flat mailable items. One card exterior has a pictorial area for a scene, illustration, or greeting, and a message and address and stamp area is on the opposite card exterior. A flap at an opening in the face or end of the mailer cooperates with sealing means, such as a tab or adhesive, to close the opening. A tear tab, seam perforations, a thread, or a tab grip at the start of double parallel perforations may alternatively be used to reopen the pocket to remove the item mailed in the pocket.

United States Patent Braznell 1 Oct. 2, 1973 [541 COMBINED POSTCARD ANDMAILER 3,193,182 7/1965 Yakovjevic 229/918 [76] Inventor: Andrew S.Braznell, 6425 Green FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l y -r 300, CulverCity, 23,909 2 1906 Great Britain 229/9211 C3111. 90230 76,486 9/1961France 229/928 22 Filed: May 20, 1971 Primary ExaminerDav1s T. Moorhead1 pp 145,208 At!0rneyWm. Jacquet Gribble [52] U.S. Cl. 229/923, 229/86 11 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. 865d 15/00 Two cards are joined at their edgesto make a pocket [58] Field of Search 229/86, 92.8 between the cards torecgive fl t il bl hen o card exterior has a pictorial area for a scene,illustra- 1 References C'ted tion, or greeting, and a message andaddress and stamp UNITED STATES PATENTS area is on the opposite cardexterior. A flap at an open 3,266,714 8/1966 Heuberger 229/928 ing inthe face or end of the mailer cooperates with 960311 1910 229 35 sealingmeans, such as a tab or adhesive, to close the 3.392905 7/1968 Caldwellr i i 229/85 opening. A tear tab, seam perforations, a thread, or a 98/1933 229/9213 UX tab grip at the start of double parallel perforationsmay 3364303 l2/1944 Hmvllrd i 229/86 UX alternatively be used to reopenthe pocket to remove 3.001.690 9 1961 P8t8rS0n.... 229 921; the itemmailed in the pocket- $141,549 7/1964 Koehler 229/928 X 3,190,541 6/1965McLaughlin et a1 229/928 6 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures V q WA 5 1 1COMBINED POSTCARD AND MAILER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The inventionrelates to mailers, and more particularly to post cards which performthe function of envelope and postcard. The field of the invention isexemplified generally by US. Pat. No. 3,266,714 issued Aug. l6, 1906 toSJ. Heuberger and entitled Postcard Construction.

Even with all the facilities at their disposal, people today generallydo not wish to spend the time necessary for a long hand-written or typedcommunication. On the other hand, there is still a great desire to keepin contact with friends and relatives and to send mementos orremembrances from time to time to such people. It would thereforefulfill a need in our society if the short message and greeting of apostcard could be combined with a receptacle to transmit objects such aspictures, checks, etc. with the short message on the post card.

Previous attempts to provide such a communication device have resultedin devices either too complicated and expensive'to manufacture or whichfailed to provide adequate message and transmitting facilities combinedwith ease of preparation and opening.

I have invented a combined postcard and mailer which is simple toprepare, economical to manufacture and easy to open when received.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates a postal mailerwhich comprises a first wall and a second wall with pictorial area onthe exterior face of one wall and a message area and an address area onthe exterior face of a wall. The walls are joined so that theirrespective inner faces are adjoining to define a pocket between thewalls. Means affording access into the pocket space between the wallsand means for closing the access are also provided, along with exteriormeans for reopening the pocket after the access means has been onceclosed.

In one form of the invention, one exterior face of the mailer has aprinted pictorial scene or greeting and the other side of the mailer hasareas for stamp, address and message. The closure means may be a flapwhich may be wide enough to cover the message area for message privacy.t

' Various means for opening the closed mailer may be tear tabs,perforated strips, or adhered closure edges with thumb notches to gripthe edges to separate them. The mailer may be made from common sheetstock such as card, manila, mylar or polyethylene, among others.

These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from thefollowing detailed description and drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view of a combinedpostcard and mailing envelope in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the obverse of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention havinga tear thread;

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation taken along line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a side view, partly broken away, ofa further alternateembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a further alternate embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the obverse of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 showingthe access means open;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a further alternate embodiment of theinvention having an elongate flap as a closing means for the accessopening;

FIG. 11 is an obverse side view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the obverse face of a further alternateembodiment of the invention having a slot for access to the pocketbetween the two walls;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view of a blank for a still further alternate embodiment ofthe invention having an internal pouch; FIG. 16 is a view of the obverseface of the blank;

FIG. 17 is a flat view of the assembled blank of FIG. 15; and I FIG. 18is a flat view of a further alternate embodiment.

In the various Figures the like parts are given like referencecharacters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A combined postcard and mailer21 is shown in FIGS. 1-3, with an obverse face 22 being shown in FIG. 2and a reverse face 23 being shown in FIG. 1. The reverse face is dividedinto an address area 24 and a message area 25. An area 26 provides spaceto affix the conventional postage stamp. Alternatively, the mailer mayhave a preprinted stamp thereon.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, a mailing pocket 31 is defined by theinner faces 32, 33 of the obverse card wall 34 and reverse card wall 35,respectively. Preferably, the combined postcard and mailer 21 is madefrom a single sheet of card stock, such as that conventionally used forpostcards, approximately 8 to 12 point stock. As can be seen from FIG.3, the card blank is folded at 37 and flaps 38, 39 contiguous with thereverse wall 35 are overlapped on obverse face 22 and affixed thereto bysuitable adhesives or staples, etc. The pocket 31 is thus closed atthree edges but open along edge 41. The edge 41 thus defines an accessto the pocket 31.

Since it is desired to contain an object within the pocket through themail system, a closure flap 42 is provided which is integral withobverse wall 34 and adapted to overlap and seal against reverse face 23to enclose the object to be mailed.

While the closure flap and the edge sealing flaps 38, 39 have been shownoverlapping opposite sides of the postcard and mailer, the flaparrangement is not critical to the invention. However, to expeditepassage of the combined postcard and mailer through the Post Officecancelling machines, it is preferred that all sealing flaps overlap theobverse side so as not to interfere with cancellation of the stamp bythe added thickness of the overlying flaps, particularly if the maileris of card stock.

It can be seen from FIGS. 1-3 that the mailer of the invention providesa pictorial scene related to the source of the mailing and areas foraddress and message and postage stamp in addition to the object, such asa flat curio or other object, sealably contained within the mailer.

On arrival at its destination, easy access to the interior is desirable.Therefore, the embodiment of FIG. 1 is provided with a tear strip 44which is defined by arcuately cut ends 45, 46 and parallel elongateperforation lines 47, 48. The cut ends and perforations are preferablyapplied prior to folding of the blank from which the combined postcardand mailer is fabricated.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein acombined postcard and mailer 51 has an obverse face with a pictorial orgreeting printed thereon (not shown) and a reverse face 53 divided intomessage, address and postage stamp areas 54, 55, 56, respectively. Thereverse face has edge flaps extending therefrom like the flap 57, which,when the card blank is folded r bent to overlie the obverse face, can beattached thereto. The obverse and reverse card walls are joined in abend 37 and each terminates at the ends opposite the bend in paralleltabs 58, 59, respectively. Flap 58 has an inner layer 61 of moisturesensitive adhesive by which the access opening 62 between walls 52 and53 may be sealed when the two flaps 58, 59 are joined after moistening.

A tear thread 63 fixed at the bend 37 and extending beyond the peripheryof the mailer provides means for opening the sealed postcard and mailerwhen it arrives at its destination.

The alternate embodiment of FIG. 6 is a mailer 71 which has an obversewall 72 which contains a pictorial printing upon an exterior face 73which combines with reverse wall 74 to define a mailing pocket closed atone end by a bend 37 and at two edges by flaps 38, 39. The flaps may beextensions of wall 74 and be held in overlapping position by stitching76.

Like the previously described embodiment, the embodiment of FIG. 6 hasparallel end flaps 58, 59, each of which has a finger notch 78. A stripof pressure sensitive adhesive 79 along flap 58 affords means forsealing the access opening 81 at the juncture of the flaps when aprotective strip 82 is removed.

A reverse side (not shown), like the previously described embodiments,contains areas for message, address and stamp. The mailer 71 may beopened when at its destination by separating the flaps 58, 59 againstthe sealing bond of the adhesive by means of the finger notches 78.

Like the embodiment of FIG. 1, the pictorial area may be defined by theedges of the flaps 38, 39 and correlated printed lines 84, 85 to give aframed appearance to the picture area. The printed border effect mayalso be used on the combined card and mailer 91 of FIGS. 7-9. The mailer91 has an obverse face 92 with a birthday greeting imprinted thereon anda reverse face 93 having a message, address and stamp areas 94, 95, 96,respectively. The obverse and reverse walls 97, 98, respectively, arejoined at a fold line 37 and sealed at their horizontal meeting edges byadhesive strips 99. An access opening 101 shown in FIG. 9 may be closedby a flap 103 having a tab 104 which, as shown in FIG. 7, fits into awall slot 105 to seal the opening 101.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 therefore provides a combined greeting card andmailer having a pocket with an access opening 101 into which a mementomay be placed for the recipient and sealed against loss by the flap 103and securing tab 104.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1012, a combined postcard and mailer has amailing pocket 31 (FIG. 12) defined by an obverse wall 111 and a reversewall 112.

The pocket edges are defined by a fold 37 connecting the obverse andreverse walls and edge flaps 113, 114 which overlap the obverse wallouter face and form part of the frame for the pictorial printing 115 onouter face 115A. The obverse wall 111 extends in a sealing andconcealing flap 116 which has an adhesive strip 117, which may be eithermoisture or pressure sensitive, along its edge.

Reverse face 112 has message, address and stamp areas 118, 119, 120,respectively, as shown in FIG. 10. The extent of flap 116 from a foldline 121 is such that the flap, when closed, not only seals access 122to pocket 31, but also conceals the written message in area 118. Theflap may also have a return address area 119. The combined postcard andmailer of FIG. 10 may be opened by inserting a long flat object betweenthe flap 116 and reverse wall 112 and overcoming the adhesive bond ofadhesive strip 117 to the reverse wall face.

The opposed margins 122, 123 of flap 111 may be tapered outwardly fromthe fold line 117 to form an easel mount. However, if the edges are leftstraight, as shown in FIG. 10, the flap may still form an easel back tosupport the pictorial obverse wall 103 for display. Although an adhesivestrip 112 has been shown for use on the embodiment of FIG. 10, theinvention does not preclude tapering of edges 122 and 123 such that theouter edge 125 of the flap may be tucked into a slot in center area ofthe reverse wall. With either mode of flap sealing, the embodiment ofFIG. 10 affords secure transit of the article deposited in pocket 31 andprivacy for the message inscribed in area 118. If the previouslymentioned wall materials such as Mylar and polyethylene are used, thenthe article enclosed may be viewed from the outside and substitute forthe exteriorly applied pictorial area.

The embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14 comprises a reverse wall 131 and anobverse wall 132 which define a receptacle pocket 133 in a postal mailer134, which may be of strong, thin manila stock. Obverse face 132 may beimprinted exteriorly with a greeting or a pictorial scene. Two of thelong edges and one short edge of the obverse wall have flaps 136, 137,138 which overlie and are adhered to the exterior edges of reverse wall131. The flaps combine with the fold 37 which joins the obverse andreverse walls to seal pocket 133.

Wall 131 has a message area 142 and an address area 143 and an area 144for a postage stamp.

Access to the pocket 133 is provided by a horizontal slit 145 whichextends across the reverse face near flap 136. The slit provides anopening 147 (FIG. 14) which, after a mailing has been placed in pocket133, is sealed by an adhesive coated lozenge 148. A postage stamp 149may also be used to seal one corner of slit 145.

In FIG. .14 slit 145 is open to receive the mailing and in FIG. 13 theslit is closed by the lozenge seal 148 and the stamp.

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 illustrate a postal mailer 151 which comprises afurther alternate embodiment of the invention. FIG. 15 shows the mailerblank and the interior faces of an obverse wall 153 and a reverse wall154. In FIG. 16 the obverse and reverse walls are shown to have apictorial representation 156 and message areas 157 and address area 158,respectively. The reverse wall also has an area 159 for a postage stamp.

The obverse and reverse walls are divided by a fold line 161. Reversewall 154 has gummed parallel flaps 163, 164 which, as shown in FIG. 17,are folded over and affixed to the exterior face of obverse wall 153. Anedge 165 of the reverse wall opposite fold line 161 has an extendingsealing flap 167 bearing an adhesive strip 169 adapted to seal acrossedge 171 of the obverse face to close the access opening defined by theedges 165, 171 when the two walls are folded together and the flaps 163,164 sealed. A perforate line 173 extends across sealing flap 167 at itsroot and perforate lines 174, 175 extend along flaps 163, 164 so thatthe flaps may be separated from the reverse wall upon arrival at itsdestination to give access to the interior space between walls 153 and154.

It is sometimes desired to mail metallic discs or coins or other similarheavier flat wafers which might break through the card stock or manilapaper of which the postal mailer is preferably made. The embodiment ofFIG. is therefore provided with a smaller inner envelope 177 to minimizethe motion and thus the possible impact of a disc enclosure upon thesealed edges of the mailer. The inner envelope may be of conventionalconstruction with a closing flap 178 which would be held in position bythe proximity of the walls 153, 154 when the mailer 151 is closed bygummed flaps 163, 164, glued in sealing relationship to the obverse wall153.

The embodiment of FIG. 15 is particularly adapted to the mailing ofheavier materials, but its use is not re stricted thereto. The objectmailed is not only securely held within the mailer but is easilyaccessible because of the perforation lines along the sealing flaps.While a pictorial representation has been shown at 156 on the obversewall, the printed matter could as well be a birthday or otheranniversary greeting.

FIG. 18 illustrates the inner faces of a mailer 181 shown in blank, theexterior faces not shown being similar to the like faces of theembodiment of FIG. 16, having pictorial and message, address and stampareas. Reverse wall 183 had no flaps, but has gummed areas 184, 185along its parallel edges in addition to the adhesive strip 169 ofsealing flap 167. Perforation lines 187, 188 separate each gummed areafrom the rest of reverse wall 183. A bend line 161 separates the obverseand reverse walls when the mailer is unfolded.

While intended for similar usage to the mailer 151 of FIG. 15, themailer 181 does not employ an inner envelope. Instead, an adhesiveretainer patch 191 covered before use by a peelable shield 192 occupiesthe center of wall 153. A flat object to be mailed is attached to thewall by means of the adhesive patch, the obverse and reverse walls arebrought together and sealed along areas 184, 195 and by flap 167 and themailer is posted. It may be opened by rupturing the perforations 173,187, 188 upon arrival.

In each of the embodiments illustrative of the invention describedabove, the disclosed combination has provided means for combining apicture postcard or greeting with a mailing recess in a mailer havingsimple closure and access means at delivery. All of the combinations ofthe various access openings and sealing and opening means have not beenshown but can be comprehended from the disclosure herein. Othervariations than those shown within the scope of the invention will occurto those skilled in this particular art. It is therefore desired thatthe scope of the invention be measured by the appended claims ratherthan by the illus trative embodiments disclosed herein.

I claim:

1. A postal mailer for mailing an article and comprising an obversewall, a reverse wall, an address area on a first face of a wall, amessage area on a first face of a wall, a pictorial area on a first faceof a wall, means joining the walls so that their respective second facesare adjoining to define a pocket therebetween, access means into thepocket space between the walls, a flap foldable across the access meansand means on said flap for securing said flap across the access meansfor closing the access means, and means exteriorly operable for openingthe pocket after the access means has been once closed, said securingmeans being adapted to fix the said flap to the first face of a wallsuch that said flap covers said message area.

2. A postal mailer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the message areaand the address area are on the same face of a wall.

3. A postal mailer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means joiningthe walls is a fold.

4. A postal mailer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means forsecuring the flap comprises an extending tab on the flap, and a slot inthe card wall which the flap overlies when in closed position adapted toreceive the extending tab.

5. A postal mailer in accordance with claim 1 wherein wherein the meansfor securing the flap comprises a second flap coextensive with the firstflap extending from the edge of the other wall, an adhesive area on oneof the flaps, and the opening means comprises a digit notch in the edgeof each flap such that a users digit may bear against one flap at onenotch and the other flap at the other notch.

6. A postal mailer in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a tabon an edge of the flap opposed to the acess means, and a slit in thewall adapted to receive the tab, the mutually opposed side edges of saidflap being unfixed with respect to the wall, said tab, slit andunfixededges defining means exteriorly operable for opening the pocket.

1. A postal mailer for mailing an article and comprising an obversewall, a reverse wall, an address area on a first face of a wall, amessage area on a first face of a wall, a pictorial area on a first faceof a wall, means joining the walls so that their respective second facesare adjoining to define a pocket therebetween, access means into thepocket space between the walls, a flap foldable across the access meansand means on said flap for securing said flap across the access meansfor closing the access means, and means exteriorly operable for openingthe pocket after the access means has been once closed, said securingmeans being adapted to fix the said flap to the first face of a wallsuch that said flap covers said message area.
 2. A postal mailer inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the message area and the address areaare on the same face of a wall.
 3. A postal mailer in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the means joining the walls is a fold.
 4. A postalmailer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for securing theflap comprises an extending tab on the flap, and a slot in the card wallwhich the flap overlies when in closed position adapted to receive theextending tab.
 5. A postal mailer in accordance with claim 1 whereinwherein the means for securing the flap comprises a second flapcoextensive with the first flap extending from the edge of the otherwall, an adhesive area on one of the flaps, and the opening meanscomprises a digit notch in the edge of each flap such that a user''sdigit may bear against one flap at one notch and the other flap at theother notch.
 6. A postal mailer in accordance with claim 1 furthercomprising a tab on an edge of the flap opposed to the acess means, anda slit in the wall adapted to receive the tab, the mutuaLly opposed sideedges of said flap being unfixed with respect to the wall, said tab,slit and unfixed edges defining means exteriorly operable for openingthe pocket.